Children's health Coverage

Melatonin industry asked to voluntarily tighten standards after dramatic rise in childhood ER visits

(CNN) -- Makers of melatonin supplements have 18 to 24 months to voluntarily add child-deterrent packaging and improve cautionary language on labels of over-the-counter products, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry.

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN

Know the symptoms of a meningitis infection

If you are heading off to college or to join the military, you doctor may have warn you about the risk of meningitis. That's because people who live in close proximity in a large group setting, such as a dormitory or barracks, are at increased risk for the condition.

UNC Health Talk

Chatham County offers new mental health service to students

Chatham County students now have more options for their mental health needs at no cost.

Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporter

How to talk to kids about tornado safety

Talking to kids about tornadoes can be stressful, but helping them prepare for a life-threatening situation can pay off down the road.

WRAL Staff

Teen cancer survivor's Make-A-Wish becomes toy shop for UNC Children's Hospital

Make-A-Wish Eastern Carolina granted a milestone wish to a teen who used it to give back.

Grace Holland, WRAL health reporter

Raleigh children's hospital staffer says facility set up for failure after numerous patients escape

An anonymous employee believes Holly Hill Hospital is understaffed and faces security concerns that make the facility prone to patients escaping.

Heidi Kirk, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

WRAL Documentary: UnSafe: North Carolina kids dying from gun violence

Guns kill more kids in North Carolina than any other cause. The WRAL Documentary "UnSafe" shows the devastation toll of youth gun violence and a simple solution that has bipartisan support that could save lives.

5 ways for parents to raise healthier children

As a parent, you have your children's health and safety as top priorities while raising them to be responsible adults.

UNC Health Talk

NC attorney general calls for FDA oversight after high lead levels found in applesauce pouches

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and 20 other attorneys general are calling for more federal oversight after food inspectors found high levels of lead and metal in cinnamon applesauce pouches.

Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Plans for new children's hospital would serve all in the state

Every day, those who care for children juggle limited hospital capacity.

North Carolina doesn't have a free-standing children's hospital. Here's why it matters

Officials behind the build say having a free-standing hospital would allow for more resources to be devoted to pediatric care with complex medical problems and would help attract more top-rated physicians.

Grace Hayba, WRAL health reporter

Steps you can take to prevent your child from getting sick, and what to do if they do

Historically in North Carolina, February and March are when the state sees the most deaths from the flu. Fortunately, doctors and Consumer Reports have some tips on preventative measures you can take, and what to do if your child does get sick

WRAL staff

Why are measles cases popping up across the United States? Here's what to know about the highly contagious virus

(CNN) -- Nearly two dozen cases of measles have been reported since December 1, according to an alert from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. International travel, coupled with declining global vaccination rates, is probably behind this spate of cases, experts say.

By Amanda Musa and Carma Hassan, CNN

Sloane Heffernan: My phone-free teen

Unlike most kids her age, our 13 year old daughter doesn't have a smartphone.

Sloane Heffernan, WRAL contributor

How to care for your child's cold

Children bring home many wonderful things from day care and school - knowledge, improved skills, new friends. In the fall and winter, though, it may seem as if they also bring home a new virus every week.

UNC Health Talk

Respiratory illnesses strain capacity at UNC Children's

When your child gets sick, there might not be a bed available for them at the hospital. UNC Children's Hospital in Chapel Hill has been operating at full capacity for months.

Grace Hayba, WRAL health reporter

New Duke Health heart surgery saves child's life and will save many others

At just 18 days old, Owen Monroe made history when surgeons at Duke Children's Hospital made him the first person in the world to receive a partial heart transplant.

Duke breakthrough: Transplanted parts of heart are growing along with child

A year after doctors at Duke Health transplanted some valves and arteries into the heart of a sick child, they announced success on Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

WRAL Staff

Family raising awareness about potential severity of flu in kids

A Wilson girl is one of just a handful of young people to die of the flu this winter in North Carolina.

A doctor's advice: Seek professional health when flu symptoms get serious

When a child is sick, it is important to watch for signs of dehydration.

Child's flu death a warning: Take these symptoms seriously

A Wilson girl is one of just a handful of young people to die of the flu in North Carolina this winter.

Julian Grace, WRAL anchor/reporter

What to know about Mycoplasma, the bacteria behind recent spikes in pneumonia cases in Ohio and overseas

(CNN) -- China, Denmark, France and the Netherlands have all recently reported an increase in cases of pneumonia in children linked to a bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae. A spike in cases has also been reported in one county in Ohio.

By Brenda Goodman, CNN

4 things to know before your child starts strength training

Health experts and fitness buffs have long espoused the health benefits of building muscles - or strength training - for adults. It improves balance, builds stronger bones and muscles, and increases metabolism to help the body burn more calories. Strength training also can protect joints from injury.

UNC Health Talk

Ear tube surgery: A doctor answers your top questions

If your child has frequent ear infections, your child's doctor may recommend ear tube surgery. It's the most common childhood surgery performed with anesthesia. More than half a million children in the United States have ear tube surgery every year, usually when they are 1 to 3 years old.

UNC Health Talk

Recalled products with high levels of lead still on some store shelves

More children were apparently sickened by apple puree pouches recently recalled due to dangerous lead contamination, the Food and Drug Administration said.